Body fluid component separating device

Abstract

A body fluid component separating device according to an embodiment may comprise: a housing; a piston which divides the housing into a first space and a second space and connects the first space and the second space via fluid-connection; and a manipulator which is coupled to the piston to be operable and is configured to maintain a pressure balance between the first space and the second space, adjust movement of the piston between a first location at which the first space has a first volume and a second location at which the first space has a second volume that is different from the first volume, and fix the piston on an arbitrary location between the first location and the second location.

1 . A body fluid component separating device, comprising:
 a housing comprising a container and a lid defining a sealed space against the outside, wherein the container comprises a central portion defined as an area including a central axis of the container, and a peripheral portion defined as an area surrounding the central portion;   a piston configured to divide the sealed space of the housing into a first space and a second space, to fluidly connect the first space and the second space, and to move in a longitudinal direction of the container along an inner surface of the container, wherein the piston comprises:
 an outer body configured to move along the inner surface of the container; and 
 an inner body located inside the outer body and connected to the outer body; 
   a piston guide extending from the lid in the longitudinal direction and configured to guide a movement of the piston, wherein the inner body is configured to move along the piston guide, and wherein the piston guide and the inner body are located in the peripheral portion;   a shaft located within the inner body, having a longitudinal axis, and configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis   a male engagement element formed on the shaft; and   a female engagement element configured to be engaged with the male engagement element and fixedly installed to the inner body,   wherein the shaft, the male engagement element, and the female engagement element are configured to adjust a movement of the piston between a first location in which the first space has a first volume and a second location in which the first space has a second volume different from the first volume, and to fix the piston at an arbitrary location between the first location and the second location.   
     
     
         2 . The body fluid component separating device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a handle rotatably coupled to the housing and including a first engagement member; and   a second engagement member connected to the shaft and engaged with the first engagement member.   
     
     
         3 . The body fluid component separating device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a fluid passage fluidly connecting the first space and the second space; and   an indicator connected to fluidly communicate with the fluid passage, and configured to indicate a layer including a target material flowing from the first space to the second space.   
     
     
         4 . The body fluid component separating device of  claim 3 , wherein the indicator comprises:
 a tube comprising an inlet port connected to fluidly communicate with the fluid passage, an outlet port connected to fluidly communicate with the second space, and a main channel defined between the inlet port and the outlet port; and   an insert disposed inside the tube, wherein the insert is configured to define a sub-channel having a cross section less than a cross section of the main channel between the tube and the insert.   
     
     
         5 . The body fluid component separating device of  claim 4 , wherein the insert comprises a guide portion to guide a fluid flowing through the main channel to the sub-channel,
 wherein the guide portion having a tapered shape with a width that changes toward the end portion of the insert.   
     
     
         6 . The body fluid component separating device of  claim 4 , wherein the length of the sub-channel is larger than the length of the main channel. 
     
     
         7 . The body fluid component separating device of  claim 1 , wherein the piston further comprises a partition configured to connect an end portion of the outer body and an end portion of the inner body and configured to partition the sealed space of the housing into the first space and the second space. 
     
     
         8 . The body fluid component separating device of  claim 7 , wherein the partition comprises a groove configured to receive a target material. 
     
     
         9 . The body fluid component separating device of  claim 1 , wherein the piston guide is disposed between the outer body and the inner body.